STORM

We use the term Sex Trade to mean trading sex for need. This takes place in any variety of situations including prostitution, pornography, stripping, mail-order bride services, escort services, massage parlors, phone sex, and any other venue in which sex for need takes place.

• We recognize each individuals' experiences in the sex trade are different. It is each individuals' right to determine their interpretation of their experiences and the goals, aspirations and outcome of their experiences in working with our program.
• We understand each individual is in a different place. Some may not be able or willing to leave the sex trade at the time they wish to access our services. Our goal is to allow them to determine which services are best for them, with the intention of minimizing the risk they face in the sex trade.
• We believe it is essential for resources to be available to individuals seeking to exit the sex trade. Exiting the sex trade is not simply a choice of changing one's behavior. Exiting the sex trade often requires financial, housing, clothing, shelter, job training and mental health resources. Those resources must be accessible to the individual seeking to exit the sex trade .
• We believe the individual exiting the sex trade has the right to use whatever terms they wish to describe their experiences and the people they encountered. There is no correct or incorrect verbiage.
• We believe in training existing agencies and service providers on the true nature of the sex trade. While dedicated agencies that help individuals exiting the sex trade may not be possible in every area, other agencies such as Domestic Violence Shelters, Rape Crisis Centers, Sexual Violence Organizations and colleges all can play a major part in harm reduction and social change.
• We believe social change is necessary but must not be prioritized over the lives of those in or exiting the sex trade.
• We believe the individual requesting our services should have the leadership role in determining what is best for them and which services and resources are appropriate to their circumstances.
• We recognize each individual requesting our services comes from a differing background. We respect their previous experiences and world view and believe this is important to any case management plan. Applying a standardized format for delivering services or determining harm is inappropriate.
• We believe individuals who are survivors of the sex trade are experts in the field. They best understand the issues surrounding the sex trade.
  Individuals who have worked in the sex trade are not criminals and should not be treated as such.
• Survivors should not be looked upon as victims to be rescued but instead as individuals who are empowered to control their own destiny and lives. What they did to survive should be honored, their experiences should be validated and above all they should be empowered by service providers to determine what is best for them.
• While we believe "solving the problem" is important, it is secondary to assisting those harmed by life in the sex trade.
• We believe there is a need for activists both in the social change arena and in direct service/harm reduction. Individuals are encouraged to take part in activism that feels right to them. Activists should be encouraged to use their own language for empowerment rather than emphasizing conformity to specific viewpoints and positions.
• We believe in each individuals right to be treated with respect and dignity.
• We believe every individual accessing our services or website is an expert in their own lives. It is not our place to determine what is right for them but only to facilitate their process. We are committed to providing resources, services and information and allowing the individual to choose those appropriate for their individual needs.
• We respect and value diversity of opinion.
• We believe in offering services to individuals requesting them regardless of their race, creed, color, religion, nationality, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender definition, belief structure, weight, disability and any other aspect of diversity not covered in this statement.

Social Change Values

• We seek an immediate end to violence against individuals in all forms. This includes but is not limited to sexual, physical, emotional, and any other form of violence not listed which is directed against any individual. While our program focuses on women and girls we are in solidarity with men, boys, transgendered and others facing violence or harm.
• We believe violence against women, girls and transgendered is a hate crime
• We oppose all forms of oppression of of any individual.We believe in actively resisting all forms of oppression through activism, outreach and testimony.
• We believe individuals involved in the sex trade must have their experiences validated and their courage and bravery in surviving both honored and respected.
• We are actively committed to providing individuals involved with the sex trade and their supporters a forum to speak, write and create through use of our electronic and written mediums.
• We are opposed to all forms of violence against women and children and other minority and exploited groups.
• We are committed to eradicating sexual and physical violence, exploitation and unlawful or unethical captivity of women and children regardless of their involvement or lack thereof in the sex trade.
• We believe that current and former prostitutes are entitled to the same protections from harm and abuse as any other segment of the population.
• We believe current and former prostitutes must have access to services just as any other segment of the population should.
• Current and former prostitutes are not criminals and should not be viewed as such.
• We support decriminalizing the women and men involved in adult prostitution as arrest and prosecution are inconsistent with our harm reduction objectives. Our support for decriminalization does not extend to anyone buying or trading sex with underage individuals or involved in forced or deceptive trafficking.
• We believe that anyone convicted buying, trading, or selling sex with an underage individual should be imprisoned and registered as a sex offender.
• We believe prostitutes transitioning out of the life often are in need of services from state, federal, county and private agencies. Those services should be offered to prostitutes as needed, and equally to others requesting services.
• We believe organizations, service providers, activists and others need to put aside political differences of opinion and focus on the client first.